Will the forest workers return?

Campbell River news reports that some skilled forest workers may not be returning to their jobs after the strike.

This makes sense in a hot economy. If you set your workers free into the job marketplace these days, can you really expect all of them to return? Mills and the forests are full of skilled management, trades people, truck drivers, and strong workers. Most have skills that are transferable elsewhere, into jobs that may be more stable and pay a similar wage. Construction is booming for the Olympics. Mining and Oil will be strong into the forseeable future. Families have to eat and bills need to be paid. So when the strike is settled and the workers are called back, will there be enough of them to keep things runnings?

But while the union and forestry companies are willing to wait to see who blinks first, skilled forestry workers are not. They’re leaving the coast to find jobs in the Interior logging industry or in the oil and gas industry in northern B.C. and Alberta.

http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=6&cat=23&id=1059442&more=0

Can Vancouver Island Forestry Workers Avoid Shutdown?

Union negotiators are still at four different bargaining tables trying to get a decent deal for their members without a strike or lockout.

Talks involve TimberWest, Island Timberlands, Interfor and Forest Industrial Relations.

Link to article:

http://www.westcoaster.ca/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=2286